Do you feel a build-up of excess mucus in your lungs? Or you cough yellow mucus and feel stiff chest? This might be chest congestion. Need not worry. From its definition to its treatment, we got you covered!

 

What is Chest Congestion?

The respiratory tract infections, like the common cold, often show symptoms of chest infection. It can be defined as an accumulation of a lot of fluids and mucus in the lungs. This accumulation then causes problems like cough, discomfort, pain, and difficulty in breathing. The extra mucus that is stuck in the lungs tries to find its way out of the body through coughing.

 

Common causes of chest congestion

To be precise, chest congestion can be caused because of two reasons: bacteria and viruses causing respiratory tract infections, and infectious airborne particles.

 

 

  • Bacteria and viruses

 

If you inhale a bacterium or a virus, it might lead to chest congestion. These bacteria and viruses work like allergens as they enter through the mucus membrane. Then these get transported by the tiny hair-like structures called cilia. The presence of these particles makes the body produce excess mucus by causing inflammation. The mucus enters your airways while trying to get rid of these viruses. However, this excessive, thicker mucus does not leave the body so quickly and gets stuck in the lungs, which, in turn, leads to a congested chest.

 

 

  • Airborne particles

 

Sometimes, certain things like dust and allergens make their way to your body naturally when you breathe. However, these particles are not always harmful. So, they get trapped in the mucus membrane of your airways and nose. Cilia then transport these particles towards your throat along with the mucus. This mucus is what makes your chest feel congested, tight, and stiff.

 

Symptoms of chest congestion

  • Excess mucus
  • Cough
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Breathlessness or rapid breathing
  • Chest pain or discomfort

 

How to treat chest congestion at home?

If you want to treat chest congestion at home, without any medication, you can do it easily with the below-mentioned remedies.

 

  • Steam

Using a steam vaporizer or a cool-mist humidifier helps keep the air moist and loosens the hold of mucus. This, as a result, reduces coughing and congestion. When you use a humidifier, make sure to keep windows and doors closed for maximized effects. If you opt for steaming, you need to follow some steps. Get a large bowl with steaming hot water. Take a towel and cover your head while you lean over the bowl. Inhale the steam gently for some time to loosen the mucus. Another way to increase moisture in the air is to take a hot shower. It will fill the entire room with steam and help you in treating the symptoms.

 

  • Gargling with saltwater

This is a traditional, tried, and tested remedy for chest toughness. It helps remove mucus and phlegm from the throat. Take a glass of warm water, add half a teaspoon of salt to it and stir until dissolved. Use this water to gargle and let it sit at the back of the throat for a few seconds. This will clear mucus from the end. You can repeat it as many times a day as needed.

 

  • Warm fluids

It is very vital to stay hydrated while treating chest congestion. When you take hot beverages, you would feel instant relief from congestion in your throat and chest. It also addresses other problems like sneezing, sore throat, nagging cough, and chills. Preferred beverages include green tea, plain warm water, herbal teas, and broths.

 

  • Foods and herbs

Consumption of garlic, lemon, ginger, black pepper, cayenne, berries, pomegranate, guava, and licorice root is highly effective in killing the bacteria and viruses, causing chest congestion.

 

  • Honey

Honey is used in a lot of home remedies as it has antibacterial and antiviral properties. It treats respiratory tract infections and acute coughs. The method in which you should have it is not one. You need to have a tablespoon of honey every 2 hours. How? You decide. Be it raw or mixed with warm water or green tea, it works anyway.

 

There is no better way to treat cough and chest toughness that to do it with home remedies. So, go ahead!